facts about Gout

Updated June 17, 2014.

Gout used to be thought of as a disease of the rich and famous who ate and drank excessively. Although aexcessive alcohol and food contributes to your risk factors for Gout there is more to the it than that. Another fact is that men account for over 90 per cent of all cases of gout.

Gout is a very painful form of arthritis, an inflammation that affects the joints and tendons as well as other tissues. Gout usually affects one joint at a time and in about 70 per cent of cases the big toe is affected. It can also affect the leg, knee, ankle, foot, hand, wrist or elbow. The finger is occasionally affected, the spine very rarely.

Causes of Gout
Gout is caused by excessive levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid, produced during the breakdown of proteins, is usually excreted by the kidneys in urine. When the body cannot get rid of the excess uric acid in this way it collects in the form of monosodium urate crystals. These crystals collect around the joints, tendons and tissues causing the inflammation and extreme pain.